The collection consists of sample cadastral diagrams and maps published by various organisations and at various scales. This online list has largely been transcribed from a photocopy of a handwritten list (classmark Maps.Dowson.1) compiled by the Department of Geography (University of Cambridge) where the maps were stored before most were transferred to Cambridge University Library on 24 November 1995. Additional maps were transferred in 2004. There are some maps on the handwritten list (see, e.g., the last page of the volume, plus various places in the list itself) that do not seem to have been transferred to the University Library but which also no longer seem to be in the Department of Geography. In addition, it is noted in the handwritten list that maps of Egypt and Sudan went to 'The Oriental Studies Library' but an enquiry made in March 2018 revealed that these maps had been "transferred to the Haddon Library ca. 6 years" and as of 16 March 2018 the current whereabouts of these maps is unconfirmed. Some of these missing maps are listed online but some are not. Most of the maps in the original collection have a green adhesive spot on them. In most cases in the compilation of this online list, the original maps were not consulted. It seems that the collection (including books) had been transferred to the Department of Land Economy, Cambridge University (from locations detailed in the references mentioned above) in 1968-69. The Squire Law Library, University of Cambridge, has a collection called the Dowson Sheppard collection which comprises two bookcases of books to do with land registration and borders (information from late 2017).